Poor Farmer shoes

[Possum]

I have been looking and looking and can not find if really poor farmers in the Confederate States were russet or black in color and were they rough leather side out or smooth leather side out. Could anybody help southern soldier boy out?

[Rmhisteach]

Fredricksburg shoes- Robert Land

www.robertlandhistoricshoes.com

[Crockett]

Well, I believe that all of my poor Confederate farmer ancestors were white, neither russet nor black. They probably had farmer's tans, though, and I would guess that after years of work their skin would be rather rough, not smooth. I'm sure that their skin probably started out smooth however.

Hope this helps,

Joe Mode

[cap tassel]

Rocky,

What makes you think russet might be common for poor farmers? Just wondering.

[Possum]

Fellows,

I have had pneumonia for the past couple weeks and the medicine makes me loopy, I meant were poor white farmer's shoes russet or black in color and were their shoes usually rough side leather out or smooth side leather out. Sorry for the typo.

[Slouch]

farmers did not have dress regulations like the army. They wore whatever worked at a reasonable price, regardless of color, rough in/out, etc.

[nick19thind]

It must be said russet shoes were normally worn by slaves. There are reports of Confederate soldiers (and even slaves) receiving undyed boots and blackening them.

[Stephen Shepherd]

I wonder how many poor farmers could afford shoes? People went without shoes more often than we think.

Stephen Shepherd

[Emmanuel Dabney]

One of my areas is research of slave clothing. There are numerous instances of slaves discussing their lack of proper footwear.

I always caution against saying "No, never." However, I would say that if slave owners provided their slaves with cheap (in the way of price) shoes, I think poor whites can also afford these shoes.

Examples from Richard Eppes' antebellum diary for the price of footwear for his slaves:

Friday November 28th 1851

“Bought of James Rice & James shoe & dry goods merchants 12 pair of brogans superior quality for men price $1.50 per pair 22 pegged brogans price 95 cents per pair 4 mens boots price $2.00 per pair. 9 boys & girls…"

Monday Dec: 8th 1851

“Wrote letters to…Messrs James Rice & James to change 2 pairs of women boots for brogues 95¢ per pair…”

Tuesday Nov: 30th 1852

"[snip] Gave check on F B V amt $68.50 took [prescription symbol]….Left measures for negro shoes at Messrs Drummond & Wytch, selecting mens at $1.25 & womens brogues at $1. ditto boys & girls. Price high article inferior 9 pair of boots at $2.25 a pair, all to be sent down when packed.”

November 26th 1855

“Purchased of Drummond shoes for negroes boots $1.75, men shoes $1.50 women $1.25 prices. Bought dresses for house servants, price 20¢ per yard….Boots & negro clothing not yet paid for.”

Tuesday Dec: 8th 1857

“Whilst in Petersburg bought negro shoes of Drummond boots best quality $3 50 2sd quality $2.75 brogans $1.73. rate of prices”

Dec: 13th 1859

“Received shoes & boots from W J Drummond today

Dr Richard Eppes
Bought of W J Drummond
1859.
Dec: 10 52 pr Brogans $1.75 $91.00
4 pr Boys “ $1.37 ½ 5.50
6 pr Womens boots $1.25 7.50
1 pr men’s “ 1.00
16 pr Boots 3.50 56.00
1 pr Kip Boots 3.00
Cash paid Frieght .37
$164.37

And those generally shoes could be had for as little as 95¢ up to generally $1.37 1/2. Boots could be had for men generally at $3.50. This is just a sampling of some of the references to shoes, not complete.

I would highly suggest that people consult the resource that Virginia Mescher has created in her ledger research. You may purchase the Historic Accounts book/CD set at http://www.raggedsoldier.com/accounts.html.

It is easy to say that people did not wear shoes, but context is needed as to when, why, and where.

[LWhite64]

Well also remember that some farmers could do their own leather work, my great grandfather and grandpa both could do leather work and either repaired their old brogans or made them for work, the store bought pair was for church. They also repaired the reins, etc for their mules for plowing, etc.

Lee